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. 2004 Apr;136(1):95-103.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2004.02415.x.

Plasma inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in severe acute respiratory syndrome

C K Wong  1 , C W K Lam, A K L Wu, W K Ip, N L S Lee, I H S Chan, L C W Lit, D S C Hui, M H M Chan, S S C Chung, J J Y Sung
Affiliations

Plasma inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in severe acute respiratory syndrome

C K Wong et al. Clin Exp Immunol. 2004 Apr.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a recently emerged infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus, but its immunopathological mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. We investigated changes in plasma T helper (Th) cell cytokines, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in 20 patients diagnosed with SARS. Cytokine profile of SARS patients showed marked elevation of Th1 cytokine interferon (IFN)-gamma, inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and IL-12 for at least 2 weeks after disease onset, but there was no significant elevation of inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, Th1 cytokine IL-2 and Th2 cytokine IL-4. The chemokine profile demonstrated significant elevation of neutrophil chemokine IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and Th1 chemokine IFN-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10). Corticosteroid reduced significantly IL-8, MCP-1 and IP-10 concentrations from 5 to 8 days after treatment (all P < 0.001). Together, the elevation of Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma, inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and IL-12 and chemokines IL-8, MCP-1 and IP-10 confirmed the activation of Th1 cell-mediated immunity and hyperinnate inflammatory response in SARS through the accumulation of monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Box & whiskers plots of changes in plasma cytokine concentrations following day of disease onset in the 20 SARS patients. Normal ranges: (a) IL-1β < 3·9 ng/l; (b) IL-6 < 3·1 ng/l; (c) IL-10 < 7·8 ng/l; (d) IL-12 < 7·8 ng/l; (e) TNF-α < 10·0 ng/l; and (f) IFN-γ < 15·6 ng/l. *Significantly elevated compared to normal values (all P < 0·05).
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Box & whiskers plots of changes in plasma cytokine concentrations following day of disease onset in the 20 SARS patients. Normal ranges: (a) IL-1β < 3·9 ng/l; (b) IL-6 < 3·1 ng/l; (c) IL-10 < 7·8 ng/l; (d) IL-12 < 7·8 ng/l; (e) TNF-α < 10·0 ng/l; and (f) IFN-γ < 15·6 ng/l. *Significantly elevated compared to normal values (all P < 0·05).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Box & whiskers plots of changes in plasma chemokine concentrations following day of disease onset in the 20 SARS patients. Normal ranges: (a) IL-8 < 5·0 ng/l; (b) IP-10 202–1480 ng/l; (c) MCP-1 < 10–57 ng/l; (d) MIG 48–482 ng/l; and (e) RANTES 4382–18783 ng/l. *Significantly elevated compared to normal values (all P < 0·05).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Box & whiskers plots of changes in plasma chemokine concentrations following day of disease onset in the 20 SARS patients. Normal ranges: (a) IL-8 < 5·0 ng/l; (b) IP-10 202–1480 ng/l; (c) MCP-1 < 10–57 ng/l; (d) MIG 48–482 ng/l; and (e) RANTES 4382–18783 ng/l. *Significantly elevated compared to normal values (all P < 0·05).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Box & whiskers plots of changes in plasma cytokine and chemokine concentrations following day of disease onset in SARS patients (a) treated (n = 13) and (b) not treated (n = 7) with pulsed methylprednisolone. Although not reaching statistical significance, median concentrations in (a) are higher than corresponding values in (b).
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Comment in

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